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enoch83
Joined: 02 Nov 2007
Posts: 69
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
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 Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 9:27 am Post subject: m-trading JIC 3 month contract |
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| would you take the job with m-trading even if it was only for 4 months? i'm waiting for september to go to Yemen and i need something short term to hold me over until then. I know there are nightmarish stories about this company, but is just 4 months bearable? |
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Nashledanou
Joined: 14 Apr 2007
Posts: 64
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| Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 10:39 am Post subject: Re: m-trading JIC 3 month contract |
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| enoch83 wrote: |
| would you take the job with m-trading even if it was only for 4 months? i'm waiting for september to go to Yemen and i need something short term to hold me over until then. I know there are nightmarish stories about this company, but is just 4 months bearable? |
It's bearable as long as you stand your ground, are always polite AND firm, and don't moan.
The Arabs suffer from a huge inferiority complex and if you make them forget it, they'll take advantage of you.
Otherwise, four months will be a picnic, you'll have fun with the students (who are great) and you will end up wondering why there are so many whiners and whimperers and self-righteous asses on these fora. |
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freesoul
Joined: 09 Mar 2009
Posts: 240
Location: Waiting for my next destination
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| Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 11:39 am Post subject: |
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enoch ,
I think you could manage to survive a couple of months as long as you make sure everything in the contract is as clear as mud.
Evans,
I wouldn't exactly say 'inferiority complex', I think they are just skeptical of everything that comes from the west with its different values, concepts and practices. It's absolutely unjustified to pass such a judgment. By doing so, we could fall into the usual trap of stereotyping, which is commonly considered nowadays an intercultural fault. It's like telling your students "in London, it�s always foggy"
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enoch83
Joined: 02 Nov 2007
Posts: 69
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
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| Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 1:18 pm Post subject: |
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| the main thing i'm worried about is getting paid on time. with such a short contract, and with hearing stories of other teachers not getting paid for 3 months, i have to wonder if i'll get paid at all lol. How can you stand firm about your pay? |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 2:43 pm Post subject: |
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| enoch83 wrote: |
| How can you stand firm about your pay? |
You can't... and that could be the catch...
VS |
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enoch83
Joined: 02 Nov 2007
Posts: 69
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
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| Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 3:12 pm Post subject: |
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| can you try and get them to put it in writing that they will pay you on time, on paper with their letterhead, and then if they don't, you can lodge a formal complaint at the bureau of labor affairs or some similar agency? does that sort of thing happen in the kingdom? |
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Never Ceased To Be Amazed
Joined: 22 Oct 2004
Posts: 3500
Location: Shhh...don't talk to me...I'm playin' dead...
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| Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 3:20 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, in fact, it does! Usually around the next Ice Age or Second Coming...which ever comes first! 
NCTBA |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 3:26 pm Post subject: |
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Dear NCTBA,
Still the incurable optimist, I see.
Regards,
John |
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Mia Xanthi
Joined: 13 Mar 2008
Posts: 955
Location: why is my heart still in the Middle East while the rest of me isn't?
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| Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 3:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| can you try and get them to put it in writing that they will pay you on time, on paper with their letterhead, and then if they don't, you can lodge a formal complaint at the bureau of labor affairs or some similar agency? does that sort of thing happen in the kingdom? |
No, you can't. You will be absolutely powerless to do anything if they do not pay you. This is one of the reasons why people can come to hate it here so much. If a Saudi wants to take advantage of you, he can do so with impunity. If you come over, that is the chance you are taking.
It's not pretty, but it's a fact.  |
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Never Ceased To Be Amazed
Joined: 22 Oct 2004
Posts: 3500
Location: Shhh...don't talk to me...I'm playin' dead...
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| Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 3:30 pm Post subject: |
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Dearest John:
Have you checked out my shout out to kittyfye on the GME Board? I have my less morose moments! 
NCTBA |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 3:47 pm Post subject: |
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Dear NCTBA,
I did indeed - would you like me to drive down to Albuquerque and wake up kittyfye?
Regards,
John |
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Never Ceased To Be Amazed
Joined: 22 Oct 2004
Posts: 3500
Location: Shhh...don't talk to me...I'm playin' dead...
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| Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 3:51 pm Post subject: |
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Please, sir. We need more posters like him.
NCTBA |
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Stephen Jones
Joined: 21 Feb 2003
Posts: 4124
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| Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 6:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| If a Saudi wants to take advantage of you, he can do so with impunity |
Why is it that educated people with respectable jobs feel that they can spout any kind of rubbish when it comes to Saudi Arabia?
If you've got a job contract you can go to the courts and will almost certainly win if they fail to pay you what is stipulated.
The problems are as follows. The whole process takes up to two years or sometimes more, and whilst using the labour courts are free you are faced with the choice of staying in the Kingdom for the duration of the case or giving a power of attorney. Whilst you are allowed to give that power to any friend you want in practice the clerk at the labour courts will insist, illegally, that it is a Saudi, so you will be obliged to put it in your lawyer's name. In effect this means that your legal costs could well come to SR5,000 which is peanuts if you are on a good western salary and they owe you three or four months, but it a lot if you are a third worlder on a much lower salary. Employers are quite aware of this, and thus you will find they will try and screw you out of a few thousand riyals, but not any amount that it would be worthwhile your taking them to court over.
Another problem sometimes comes when the employer goes bankrupt, as collecting the money then becomes problematic. That is of course a problem in the UK and Europe as well. |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 6:11 pm Post subject: |
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Dear Stephen,
I rather doubt too many people would be much inclined (or able) to jump through all the hoops you described.
Moreover, do you think it would make a difference at all if your employer has a fair amount of wasta (as employers so often do?)
Regards,
John |
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Never Ceased To Be Amazed
Joined: 22 Oct 2004
Posts: 3500
Location: Shhh...don't talk to me...I'm playin' dead...
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| Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 6:26 pm Post subject: |
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Ergo, the comment on the next Ice Age or the Second Coming...which ever comes first!
NCTBA |
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